In my infinite wisdom, I took it upon myself to reset the service indicators in my car (as I replaced the cabin air filter, oil, oil filter, brake fluid rotors & pads about 200km ago)

Now, before I get shot down in flames, I did not replace the brake sensors, HOWEVER the OEM pads where replaced by BMW <10,000km ago (front service indicator was showing 47,000km, rears approximately 40,000 (cant remember exactly on the rears) I can only presume that the sensors where replaced at this time also, I believe the OEM pads are expected to have a 50,000km life expectancy?

So, given the basis that the the sensors are a wear down nub that only touches the rotor in the last few mm of pad life, I believe the sensors to be fine, and thus not need replacing (especially as the pads that I removed are essentially "as new")

Sample image of the sensor (from an e46) showing how the sensor does not make contact until well into the pads life:

I have gone through the usual reset service indicators, and have now reset the front and rear brakes 5-6 times to no avail, each time I get the following screen:

(stolen from another post hence MPH)

Soo.. any ideas? most annoying driving around with the handbrake warning light on, and the service indicator telling me I need new pads!

have you checked the sensor? make sure it's still seated properly in the pad. if the pads are still good, it shouldn't throw a code, but if you need a quick fix, you can cut the end of the sensor off, and twist the wires together. Then reset the code, and you are good.

currently on my dad's car the ebrake light is one and the service light is on (both in red) but all the service items are clear and the earliest one is an oil change in 8000km. the rear brake wear sensor was tripped but since then fixed...why is the brake light still on? we changed the fluid recently also.

i changed my brakes a month ago before any warning. so yesterday i had an emissions inspection warning, i changed that to next year and while i was at it i reset my rear brake meter. it had read 280mls i reset it and now it reads ------- and i have the red brake symbol that always stays on and the service engine now indication. i was just going to stop in and see my service advisor and let her fix it i dont know that you can reset the brake miles without a scanner. i seem to have the same problem as everyone else in this thread, if anyone knows about this it would help us all out.

Put the key in, press start without brake to enable accessory mode, wait until the service reminders go away to the normal screen, hold the odometer reset button until a yellow triangle pops up, scroll to whatever service reminder you would like to clear, press BC until reset option comes up, hold BC to reset, and youre all set

I had the same thing on my car. Pads were replaced before wear sensor triggered. I had to replace the sensor to fix, they seem to be a two stage trigger, even if the final stage is not worn into, the first trigger will mileage count down and not resettable. Once it was replaced, AND DROVE it, it reset itself. Anyway that was my experience.

I had the same thing on my car. Pads were replaced before wear sensor triggered. I had to replace the sensor to fix, they seem to be a two stage trigger, even if the final stage is not worn into, the first trigger will mileage count down and not resettable. Once it was replaced, AND DROVE it, it reset itself. Anyway that was my experience.

I had the same thing on my car. Pads were replaced before wear sensor triggered. I had to replace the sensor to fix, they seem to be a two stage trigger, even if the final stage is not worn into, the first trigger will mileage count down and not resettable. Once it was replaced, AND DROVE it, it reset itself. Anyway that was my experience.

I also have the same problem -- pads replaced before sensor is worn. But you mentioned that the trigger might have 2 stages, 1. worn into 2. possible mileage count down. But my question is that how does the car know if a new sensor being replaced therefore to reset it?

I also have the same problem -- pads replaced before sensor is worn. But you mentioned that the trigger might have 2 stages, 1. worn into 2. possible mileage count down. But my question is that how does the car know if a new sensor being replaced therefore to reset it?

All, I have the same problem. Brake sensor broke, I replaced it and reset the light via the manual method. Now the service for brakes show miles remaining at _ _ _ _ _. I have the red brake lighting and red car on a lift... Bought the Bavarian Technic tool and no percentages are showing next to the amount remaining. Tried to manually adjust the value still no luck. replaced with another sensor, no luck. IDEAS?

I had the same thing on my car. Pads were replaced before wear sensor triggered. I had to replace the sensor to fix, they seem to be a two stage trigger, even if the final stage is not worn into, the first trigger will mileage count down and not resettable. Once it was replaced, AND DROVE it, it reset itself. Anyway that was my experience.

I guess it does take a bit of driving or a number of startups with no sensor error to reset the 'stage 2' brake reminder.

To recap:

Front sensor was worn down past first nub. Replaced rotors, pads and sensor. Probably not the one triggering the error as the rear one was worn down to its last bit. Replaced rear rotors, pads and sensor.

Reset front and rear service reminder. BRAKE was still lit for the first day of commuting. Disappeared second day.

I recently replaced my rear brake pads at the track and didn't have a spare pad level sensor handy, so I've been rolling with the brake light service required lamp lit.

I took the car to the dealer for some other issues and the SA told me that the code associated with the brake light will cause the DME to take speed-prevention countermeasures such as cutting the throttle because "it doesn't want you going fast without brakes".

Normally, I would completely discount such a story as pure BS, but this SA (and the tech that worked on my car) is respected in the local BMW club, and they're both racers as well. Coupled with the fact that nanny-features are becoming so prevalent in today's cars, I'm actually considering believing it.